Gas-heated device



Jan. 21,4930. cowLx-:s v

GAS HEATED DEVICE original Filed Jury 13,'1925 2 sheets-sheet 1 mlinmmmnllmm s Jan. 2l, 1930. r l. cowLEs 1,744,448.

' GAS HEATED DEVICE Original Filed July 13, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 21, 1930 IRVLNG COWLES, GF CHCAGO, ILLEN'OES, ASSIGNQR GHCAGO, ILLINOS, A. COREORATIGN GE LLNOES, AS TRUSTEE GAS-HEATED DEVICE OrUinal a lcation filed Jul' 1S, 1325 Serial No. I33.14. Bived and this a lisation. led Fehruai 2G s PP Y Y P Y rlhis invention relates to improvements in gas heated devices, and more particularly to such devices as soldering irons which are subject to sudden changes from one position te another and, by reason thereof, have, i all instances lrn'own to me, heretofore become extinguished because of the low pressure of the gas andk theo-hanging positions of the gas supply hose for feeding the burner of the device, the present invention relating to that type of device wherein the service mains yconstitutes the medium for ing in atmospheric air for admixture with the gas to produce a blue flame as distinguished from that type wherein compressed air constituted the medium for drawing in gas for admixture for the samepurpose, a feature of the device of this invention being that it is adjustable for gas and air supply such as last described or for other premixed gas and air supplv.

rl'he manrobjects of the invention, in harmony with the foregoing, are to provide a device of this character which is continuously and reliably operative with ordinary fuel and illuminating gases, such as are supplied from city mains, to produce a steady blue flame which will not extinguish by sudden changes Vin positions of the device and wherein the impingement of said flame on the heatsurface of the soldering tip or other element to be heated will be substantially the same in all positions of the device and under the usual lowv pressure conditions common to nas service mains of municipalities.

Further objects of the invention reside in providing a device of this character the burner of which is easily adjustable to adapt the same for use with gases of varyingquality measured in B. t. u.s and to adapt the same for use withpremisedgas and air.

@ther objects-of the linvention will be fully understood from the following specification.

Y ln the accompanying drawings illustrating suitable embodiment of the invention:

Fig. l is a side eleva-tion of a soldering iron constructed i-n accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary central longitudinal section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 isa fragmentary detail View in ele- Seral No. 255,520.

vation., partly in section, of the lower end portion of the device.

Figs. 4 and orare transverse sections on the lines 4-4 and 5 5, respectively, of Fig. 2.

Figs. 6 and 'Z' are respective views of a valve and a valtie-operatingmember, respectively, of the device.

`Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary longitudinal sections of the gas-burner portion of the device illustrating` diderent types of burner tips employed.

Fig. l0 is a transverse section on the line lp-l() of Fig. l.

The subject matter of the present vapplication is in the nature of a division of my pending application, Serial No. 43,114, filedk duly 3, 1925, except in so far as slight changes in structure from those originally illustrated and described are herein incorporated without, however, departing from the scope and meaning of the claims ofsaid earlier application which were deleted therefrom in response to requirement for division thereof.

rlhe device of the present invention consists of what may be termed a burner head l which consists of a cylindrical member having a central passage therethrough which varied in diameter, the same presenting` the portion Q, of least diameter, an interi threaded portion 3 of larger diameter, a threaded vdischarge end portion 4 of great I diameter. rlhe gas supply tube 5 is threaded :ato the outer end portion 2 of said bore, and a gas discharge nozzle 6 is threaded into the intermediate portion 3 thereof. Said nozzle 6 includes the tapered end portion 7 having the central discharge opening 8 and presentin sg, internally, the tapered valve seat 9 iu which the tapered end of the valve l0 is adapted to seat. The intalre end of said nozzle 6 presents a cylindrical bore 'll which corresponds in diameter withthe portion 2 and constitutes a continuation of the latter. body of the valve l0 is cylindrical and snugly fits the bore portions 2 and ll and is reciprocable therein. Adjacent its outer end the valve l() is provided with a lateral slot l2 in which the crank-pin 13 of the shaft 14 engages, said shaft 14 being rotatably mounted in a lateral or radial opening in the mem- 'E0 UNON BANK OF CEIQAGO, 0F

rone hundred eighty degree ber 1 which is of larger diameter at its outer than at its inner end and presents the annular shoulder between its ends upon which the annular flange 16 of the shaft 14 bears. The outer end portion'oi the said radial opening is threaded to receive a packing nut 17 between which and the flange 16 a suitable packing 13 is compressed to produce a gastight joint. yiiliis portion lof the head 1 will be herona ter referred to as the stuliing box. The shaft 14 is preferably provided with a slot 19 in its outer end for the engagement ot screw driver, the nut 17 being similarly slotted. Y

The position of the valve 10 with res Dect to the seat 9 is such that when the shaft 14.is turned through an are oi' slightly less than s from the j shown in Fig. 2, said Vvalve will be firmly ted. Y The valve 10 is hollow and is provided with a central discharge port 20 which is oi lsmaller diamet than the opening or port 3 and is axially aligned with the latter. Additional radial ports 21 in the valve 10 connect the interior thereof with the annular recess 22 at or adjacent theupper or base portion or its tapered end so that when valve is unseated a larger volume oi'gas will bejdelivered to the opening 3.

ln the bore portion 4 of the blocl: 1 there is mounted a threaded member 23 having a tapered inner. surface 24 opposed to the ef;- ternal tapered outer surface of the nozzle G upon which it is adapted to seat when said member 23 is adjusted to one limit of its movement relatively to the member 1. This tapered surface 24 diverges from the discharge port 25 which entends through the boss or nipple 26 integral with the member 23. llie outer end portion oi said port 25 is enlargedand threaded to receive the spout element 27, the bore ol: which is et slightly less diameter than the port 25 and which is adjustable to lengthen the discharge passage, which entends through said spout element or to slierten said passage by entirely ren'ioving clement 27.

The head 1 is provided adjacent its intake ond with an annular groove 23. Bet veetlie inner annular wail of the latter and the boro portion 2, and extending parallel with the airis of the latter, is a series et air passages 29`which lead from the annular shoulder 30 at the inner end oit the bore portion 4 to the outer end oi the head 1. These pas- 29 are spaced equioistantly from each other and areequally spaced radially from the axis of said head and its central bore. Air is drawn through said openings bythe inj actor-like action of the gas discharged from the opening 3 in the event that the member 23 is disposed with its tapered surface 24 spaced tromfthe outer tapered surface of the nozzle 6 and will be admixed with said gas within the chamber formed between said tapered surface 24 and the shoulder 30, said chamber being hereinafter termed the mixing chamaer. Adjustment of the member 23 relatively to the nozzle G determines the area et' the annular space between the surface 24 and the opposed surface of the nozzle' G relatively to the aggregate area of the passages 29 to thereby control and detern'iine the proportions of vair and gasadmixed in said mixing chamber. For this reason l terni tne lat ter an adjustable mixing chamber.`

A second set of air passages 31 leads from the grove 23 to the other or discharge end of said head 1. lThese passages are of larger diameter vthan the passages 29`but are similarly arranged and serve to admit air to` the tube 32 when the latter is attached to said head 1, said tube 32 coacting with the head 1 and the element 33 to be heated, to form a combustion chamber. It will be noted that the passages. 31 constitute the only air intake passages for said combustion chamber, the products oi" combustion being discharged through the draft openings 33a and 34 adjacent the element 32. It will also be noted that all passages for gas and air are axially parallel.

The gas supply tube 5 vis preferably connectedwith a gas service outlet by means of a flexible hose and in order to obviate twisting ot' the latter the saine is detachably associated with the tube y5 by means o the swivel connection shown in Fig. 2. f

1t will be noted that the outer end of tube 5 is threaded into the inner end or head 35 ot' a tube 36 ol' larger diameter than tube 5, a threaded head 37 serving as a closure for the outer end of said tube 36. In said head 37 is a central opening through which the swivel tube 33 projects. The latter is provided adjacent its other end with an annular groove in which the split collar 39 seats. Slidable on said tube 33 are two ring members 40 between which suitable packing 41 is mounted and compressed under the influence of the compression 42 to provide a gastight jointJ between the tubes 38 and 36 while permitting their relative rotation.

Slidable on the tube 5 is a collar 43 which is provided with an annular iange 44 carrying projections 45 for engaging the outer surface or end of the head 1 to space said collar 43 and its flange from said head to thus admit lateral flow el air to the air-passages 29. A tubular handle 46 of wood or other suitable material is clamped between said flange 44 and the opposed flange 47 of the head 37.

ln use, the device may be easily and quickly adjusted to suit local conditions as to the character and service pressure of the gas. The latter appears to vary from about 475 to more than 1000 B. t. us so that the volunie of air required to be mixed with the gas to produce a blue llame varies consistently with and in ratio to the richness of the gas.` Adjustment ofthe member 23 not only controls the volume of air Iadmitted to the mixobtain a more complete and intimate min.

ture of air and gas as the .length of the mixing chamber is increased. If, on the other hand, the available fuel gas is premixed with air as is the` casein rsomefactories7 the member 23 may be adjusted to entirely shut off the air supply to the `mixing chamber;

lVhen the spout ele-ment 27 is in the position shown in F ig. 2., the jet ,of burning gas discharged Will belong andL thin and Will be rendered still thinner by adjusting said member 27 to project farther outwardly. By entirely removing'xsaid member 2? the jet will be increased in diameter, the dimensions of said jet being varied by adjustment of the valve 10. Obviously the packing 18 serves also to resist free'rotation of the shaft 14 so that it Will be retained firmly in any position to Which it is adjusted.

Control of the gas supply below the minimum permitted by the valve '10, is effected by means of the valve controlling the service outlet With Which the device is connected.

An advantage of the structure appears to lie in the fact that it may be manipulated as desired when in use Without affecting the steadiness of the flame jet. The latter is steady when the device is associated With the combustion chamber andv element to be heated as Well as `When disassociated therefrom. This appears to be novel in the art as officials of gas companies have marveled at this steady performance statingthat it is the first and only device ofv this general character which Would not extinguish upon a sudden change of position as had been the case vvith all previous devices brought rto their attention. This advantage is believed to result from the arrangement of air passages parallel With the gas duct on the one hand and the provision of a sufficiently large and unobstructed gas outlet port in the valve 10 to permit of a steady iioiv. But practice has also demonstrated that the draft passages or outlets from the combustion chamber have a strong influence on this characteristic of steady burning in all positions. l

It Will be noted thatthe draft outlets 33a are of a peculiar shape and relative arrangement, and include the perforations 841 ln the instance illustrated the `element 33 to be heated has flat sidesupon one of Which it Will usually rest when idle, these flat sides being flush with the draftopenings The recesses 48 ofthe member 33 coact With the openings 33a to permit exhaust of products of combustion and, in use, the flame jet extends into the said recesses 48. In order that this occur When the dev `ce is horizontally disposed, to the end that the maximum heating surface of member 33 may be covered by the flame jet, it is necessary to combat a vertical cross-draft of air 'which heat at this point Will naturally produc rlhe draft openings 33a and perforations 3ft are so shaped and relatively arranged as to be substantially out of vertical alignment with each other regardless of the position of the flat surfaces of the tip when the device is substantially horizontally disposed thus preventing a direct updraft transversely of and tending to deflect the flame jet. A slight upward deflection of the latter is noticeable but is not sufficient to prevent partof the flame jet to enter the lou-est recess 48 of the member 33. n

Obviously the temperature of t-he member 33 will be determined by the area of surface against which the flame jet impinges as coinpared to the convection surface thereof (assuming the gasto be of a standard quality and pressure) this temperature being, of course, lowered by Contact of the member 33 with solder and the metal to be joined which absorb the heat very rapidly proportionately to thickness, etc. Hence, the size, shape and heating surface of the member 33 as Well as the volume of fuel used must be changed andvaried to adapt the device for so-called light, medium and heavy duty service and for other reasons known to persons skilled in the art. i v

Y The tube 32 is, as shown, telescopically engaged with the member 1, the joint between these element-s being substantially air tight. It Will further be noted that the tube 32 has no air intake openings other than the air pas` sages 31.

ln use the head 1 becomes quite hot, the temperature being such that contact of iingers With even the flange lli Will cause burns. rl`he air admitted to the tube 32 and to the mixing chamber is heated to a very appreciable degree in 'the air passages 31 and 2Q, respectively, and may, by reason of such preheating, present an advantage over cooler air passing more directly into admixtnre with the gas in the mixing chamber and into contact With the flame jet, respectively, which is rel-lect d in greater operating and heating eiiiciency, it being seemingly obvious that there can be no greater loss of heat from the flame in this structure by absorption thereof by the member 1 than is true of any Bunsen type burner, the'loss in the instant case being at least partlyneutralized by the preheating of air as above mentioned.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the kind specified including a head having an axial gas-duct therethrough, a mixing chamber bet-Ween the ends of said member associated with said duct, air passages parallel with said gas-duct extending from the intake end of said head to one end of said mixing chamber, a com-l bustion chamber concentric with said head and having discharge openings for products of combustion in its peripheral wall only at its outer end arranged for direct reception of fluid from the mixing chamber, andV air passages parallel with said gas-duct and first-mentioned air passages and arranged outwardly of the latter extending from the intake end of the head to the intake end of the combustion chamber.

` 2. A device of the kind specified including a head provided axially thereof1 between its ends with a mixing chamber, an axial gas-duct leading from one end of said head into one end of said chamber, a plurality of air ducts parallel with and dis-posed around said gas-duct leading from the intakeend of said head to said end or" said chamber, a second set of air ducts parallel with the firstnamed and arranged around the saine extending through said head, a burner member having a discharge duct axially aligned with the gas-duct and adjustably mounted in and constituting a closure for the discharge end of said mixing chamber for varying the length of the latter. l

3. A device of the kind specified including a cylindrical head having an axially disposed mixingchamber between its ends, an axial gas-duct leading from the intake end of said head to one end of said chamber, a tapered tip at the discharge end of said duct, a plurality of air ducts parallel with said gasduct, and arranged around the latter,lead ing 'from the intake end of said head to the said chamber at the base of and around said tapered tip, asecond set of air-ducts parallel with said first-named set, and arranged around the latter, extending through said head, a burner member having a central orilice axially aligned with the gas-duct and having an inner tapered wall converging at the intake end of said orifice, adjustably mounted in the discharge end of said head and constituting an end wall of said chamber, said tapered wall coacting with said tapered tip to control the volume of air admitted to the mixing chamber.

t. A device of the kind specified including a cylindrical head having an axially disposed mixing chamberbetween its ends, an axial gas-duct leading from the intake end of said head to one end of said chamber, a valve seat bordering the discharge end of said gas-duct, a plurality of `air ducts parallel with said gas-duct, and arranged around the latter, leading' from the intake end of said head to the said chamber rearwardly of said valve seat, a second set of air ducts parallel with said first-named set, and arranged around the latter, extending through said head` a burner member having' a central orifice axially aligned with the gas-duct and having an inner wall formation coacting with said valve seat to control the volume of air passing the latter, said burner member adj ustably mounted in the discharge end of said head and constituting a closure for said mixing chamber.

5. A device of the kind specified including a gas burner comprising a head having a central gas-duct, a supply pipe connected with one end of said duct, a discharge nozzle at the other end of said duct, a member having a central discharge port mounted between the ends of said duct and presenting a valve seat around said port opposing the intake end of said duct, a hollow valve having a central discharge port at one end and lateral discharge ports between its ends reciprocably mounted in said duct and adapted to seat on said valve seat to thereby shut off iiow from said lateral ducts, a laterally disposed valve operating element in said head associated with said valve for moving same toward and from said seat, there being a mixing chamber between said member and said nozzle, and air ducts disposed parallel with and around said gas-duct leading from the intake end of said head to the nearest adjacent end of said mixing chamber.

6. A device of the kind specified including a gas burner comprising a head having a central gas-duct, a supply pipe connected with one' yend of saidl duct, a discharge nozzle kelement mounted in the other end of said duct and adjustable longitudinally of the latter, a member having a central discharge portinounted between the ends of said duct and presenting a valve seat around said port opber and said nozzle, and air ducts disposed parallel with and around said gas-duct leading from the intake end of said head to the nearest adjacent end of said mixing chamber, said mixing chamber being adjustable in length by adjustment of said nozzle element.

f 7. Adevice of the kind specified including a gas burner comprising a head having a central gas-duct, a supply pipe connected with onev end of said duct, a discharge nozzle element mounted in the other end of said duct and adjustable longitudinally of the latter, a member having a central discharge port mounted between the ends of said duct and presenting valve seats around said port, one l.

of Which opposes said nozzle element, a hollow valve having a central discharge port at one end and lateral discharge ports between its ends reciprocably mounted in said duct and adapted to'seat on the other of said valve seats to thereby shut off flow from said lateral ducts, a laterally disposed valve operating element in said head associated with said valve for moving same toward and from said seat, there being a mixing chamber between said member and said nozzle, and air ducts disposed parallel with and around said gas-duct leading from the intake end of said head to the nearest adjacent end of said mixing chamber, said nozzle element having a surface adapted to seat on the valve seat of said member opposed thereto to thereby shut od or control the volume of air admitted to the mixing chamber, the latter being adjustable in length by adjustment of said nozzle element.

8. A device of the kind specified including a handle portion consisting of a burner head, a gas feed pipe for one end thereof, a handle mounted on said pipe, a discharge nozzle in the other end of said head axially aligned with said feed pipe, a gas-duct in said head between the feed pipe and the nozzle, said duct being of larger diameter at its discharge end than at its intake end and being provided at substantially the meeting point of said portions of different diameters With a partition Wall having a central port bordered at both ends by valve seats on one of which said nozzle is adapted to seat, a valve having a central aperture reciprocably mounted in the intake end portion of said duct and adapted to seat on the other of said valve seats, there being additional gas-ducts in said valve permitting flow of gas past the same when it is moved from its seat, Ysaid discharge nozzle being' adjustable toward 'and Vfrom said Wall and the space bet-Ween the latter and said nozzle constituting a mixing chamber, and air ducts leading from said mixing chamber to atmosphere, said ducts being disposed parallel with and around thesmaller diameter portion of said gas-duct, said nozzle constituting a valve for controlling the Volume of air admitted to the mixng chamber through said ducts.

9. A device of the kind specified including a burner member having an axial gas-duct having intake and discharge end portions communicating with each other through an axial port, a manually operable valve mounted in the intake end portion of said duct and eoacting with said port to control the flow of gas through the latterair ducts extending parallel With and arranged around the intake end portion of said ductleading from atmosphere toward the discharge end portion of said duct, and a manually adjustable discharge nozzle mounted in the discharge end of said duct and constituting a means for controlling the said air ducts,

i 10. A device of the kind specified including a burner member having lan axial gas-duct having intake and discharge end portions communicating with each other through an axial port, a manually operable valve mounted in the intake end portion of said duct and coacting With said port to control the flow of gas through the latter, air ducts extending parallel with and arranged around the intake end portion of said duct leading from atmosphere toward the dischargeend 1portion of said duct, an adjustable discharge nozzle constituting a closure for said disof said duct and a Vmeans for controlling said air ducts, the space between said nozzle and said portconstituting a mixing chamber adjustable in lengt-h.

ll. A device of the kind specified comprisin combination, a cylindrical head having a central gas-,duct including a mixing chamber, means for connecting the same with a source of under pressure, a cylindrical combustion chamber having air tight association with the discharge end of said head atene end and carrying an element to be heated at its other end, there being openings for the discharge of products of combustion at the lastnamed end of said chamber, said head being vprovided adjacent its intake end With an annular groove, there being a series of air ducts leading from said groove to the said combustion chamber and another seriesof air ducts leading from the intake end of said head to t ie said mixing chamber, said several series of air-ducts parallel with each other and with said gas-duct.

cylindrical head having a central valve-controlled gas-duct, a burner nozzle at one end of said duct, means for connecting the-other end of the latter with a source of gas under pressure, there being a mixing chamber between the ends of said head, a cylindrical combustion chamber associated with said head at one end and with an element to be heated at its other end and having discharge openings in the last-named end, said chamber arranged for axial dow of gas therethrough, and tivo sets of air ducts in said head arranged around and parallel With said gasduct, both sets communicating at one end with atmosphere, one thereof communicating at its other end with said mixing chamber and the other thereof with said combustion chamber.

18. A device of the kind specified including a cylindrical head having a central valve-controlled gas-duct, a burner nozzle at one end of said duct, means for connecting the other end of the latter With a source of gas under pressure, there being a mixing chamber between the ends of said head, a cylindrical combustion chamber associated With said head at one end and with an element to be heated at its other end and having discharge` openings in the last-named end, said chamber arranged for axial flow of gas therethrough,

there being an annular groove adjacent one end of said head, a set of air ducts through said head extending from the said mixing chamber to the outer end of said head and disposed out of communication with said groove, and a set of air chiots ofv larger crosssectional area than the iirst-named extending from said groove to said combustion chamber, all of said ducts being parallel With each other and with said gas-duct.

14. A device of the kind speciied including a burner head having an axial gas-duct, a mixing chamber at the discharge end of said duct, air ducts parallel With and arranged around the gas duct leading into the intake end of themixingchamber, a burner nozzle mounted in the discharge end of the mixing chamber and adjustable axially of said head for varying the length of said chamber, and means Within said chamber coacting With said nozzle for controlling said air passages.

116. A device of the kind specified including a burner head having an axial gas-duct termie nating in an axial gas discharge port, a mixing chamber concentric with said duct into which said port discharges, air ducts arranged around and extending parallel With said duct for admitting air to the intake end of said mixing chamber, a burner nozzle adjustably mounted in the discharge end of said chamber for varying the length thereof, and a valve seat bordering said discharge port and coaeting With said nozzle to control the BOW of air into said mixing chamber.

IRVING COWLES. 

